As a native Texan now in charge of the Cal football program, Sonny Dykes seems intent on ingratiating himself to the community as a neighbor as well as a coach.

While many Cal coaches choose to live beyond the Caldecott Tunnel in Contra Costa County, Dykes said he wants to live in Berkeley so he and his family can be close to his work. He's already made an offer on a house in Berkeley.

"I think you need to live in the community if you can," he said. "It's important for people to see you in restaurants and shopping and we need to be involved in the schools. I think that's important. For me, I like to have my kids at practice, my wife at practice, hang around and get to know the players. It's important ... we create a family environment."

Coming from Louisiana Tech, Dykes duly noted the difference in real estate prices between Ruston and Berkeley. "A little more expensive," he said dryly.

For a man whose life has been a whirlwind the last two weeks, Dykes comes across as a relaxed fellow. Wednesday he took time out from hiring coaches and recruiting players to share slices of pizza with reporters eager for information on the direction of Cal football under its new coach.

In the short time he's been on the job, Dykes has made it a point to be out and about and meet people and listen to what they have to say.

"The thing that's impressive about this place is its history," he said. "There's a lot of tradition here, a passionate fan base. I didn't know it was to this extent."

Dykes on Wednesday announced the hiring of Andy Buh (pronounced "Boo") as his defensive coordinator as he continues to fill out his coaching staff. Still to be hired are position coaches for the offensive line, defensive line and defensive backs; Buh will handle linebackers in addition to his overall defensive responsibilities.

"Andy is somebody I have coached against and watched over the years," Dykes said. "He's a guy I have always wanted to work with. He fits my personality in what I'm looking for in a defensive coordinator. He's intense and positive. We're pretty like-minded."

Buh, 39, is linebackers coach at Wisconsin. He'll remain with the Badgers through the Rose Bowl before joining the Cal staff in early January. Buh is no stranger to Cal, serving as an administrative assistant for former coach Tom Holmoe in 2000 and '01.

"Cal is a program that has all of the resources to be a consistent winner in the Pac-12," Buh said. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for coach Dykes and what he has done over his career."

Buh has also coached at Nevada, his alma mater, and San Diego State, Fresno State and Stanford, working with Jim Harbaugh from 2007 to '09.

The new defensive coordinator employs a 4-3 front as opposed to the 3-4 alignment used by Jeff Tedford. That means some outside linebackers on the roster will transition to defensive ends, a likely change for Brennan Scarlett, to name one.

That's not the only change in Cal football under Dykes. The new coach favors afternoon practices and said they will be open to the media as well as fans.

"We'll open the gates and come on in," he said. "We don't have any secrets. People can watch our film; they can rewind it, fast-forward it. This is not my program. This is Cal's program."

Dykes is in the process of going through video of each of Cal's games from the 2012 season. Quarterback Allan Bridgford started three games last season but by no means does the senior-to-be have an edge in the competition for the starting job in 2013. Dykes said that's wide open and doesn't care if the winner is a fifth-year senior walk-on or a true freshman.

"You've got to wait on that," he said. "Can this guy play? Who's going to help us win?"

Dykes scheduled his allotted 15 spring practices to run from late February to late March. In that time he said he hopes to identify his starting quarterback, meaning the competition among Bridgford, Zach Kline, Austin Hinder, Kyle Boehm and incoming freshman Jared Goff should be riveting - all the more so since folks can watch it play out in person.

Sonny Dykes at a glance

-- Hired his defensive coordinator Tuesday. Andy Buh, currently linebackers coach at Wisconsin, worked previously at Cal, Stanford, Nevada, San Diego State and Fresno State.

-- Made an offer on a house in Berkeley. Wants to live close to campus so wife Kate and two young daughters can attend practice.

-- Currently staying in a hotel in Emeryville. Has eaten at Berkeley institutions Top Dog and Zachary's Pizza.

-- Scheduled spring practice from late February to early March. Practices will be open to media and fans.

-- Said no high school recruit who committed to Cal when Jeff Tedford was coach has de-committed.